Bellevue Hill IV attempt
December
22, 2018
Solo scramble.
So much for waiting for late spring to take another
run at this route (I did start earlier in the day if that’s any consolation). Hoping
that a route on the east side of any mountain would shield me from the
predicted strong winds and accompanying bone–chilling temperatures, I picked the
route up Bellevue Hill I had completed a month earlier. The strategy worked
well for the approach hike and the northeast ridge up to the first highpoint.
Beyond that, the wind unleashed a bloody hell on the mountain and all those
foolish enough to be on it.
I did make it to within 10 minutes of the summit, but
at that point, my fingers were so cold that I couldn’t even take photos and the
wind was threatening to knock me off my feet. I didn’t need to be told twice
and started down immediately, choosing to go directly down a drainage on the
east face, instead of retracing my steps back along the northeast ridge. You’d
think that after last week’s call close on Eagle Mountain and innumerable other
epic’s taking unknown descent routes, I’d be a little gun-shy – apparently not!
In general, the route turned out to be excellent.
Easy plunge-stepping down the first section enabled me to lose elevation
quickly and therefore escape the relentless wind. When a drop-off was reached I
was able to circumvent it on the right side, but on some extremely precarious,
icy terrain – in retrospect the left side would have been far easier and less dangerous.
After the drop-off the remainder of the drainage
was straightforward to descend. It was also unexpectedly scenic: huge stands of
completely blackened trees attesting to the extent of the 2017 Waterton fire; a
few frozen waterfalls; colourful rock (that goes without saying in this part of
the Rockies!); terrific wintery and barren views back up the mountain.
Once off the mountain, I continued to follow the
meandering drainage only to encounter more amazing scenery – mostly in the form
of shockingly white, sun-bleached, dead trees. In fact I took at least twice as
many photos of trees on this trip as anything else!
Back into the open, however, the wind was up to its
old tricks and finishing the trip pronto seemed like the prudent thing to do.
No summit, but overall an exciting day out of thrills and chills
(mostly chills!)
The objective (just left of centre) from near the trailhead
Nice sunrise
Colours of the early morning Sun
The route goes up the right skyline
The beginning of many tree photos! Lakeview Ridge behind
Typical terrain on the northeast ridge
A little snow is always a good thing!
Looking towards Vimy Peak
The Lakeview Ridge Horseshoe route
At the first highpoint. The summit is not terribly far away, but when the wind
is almost knocking you off your feet, it feels like a mighty long traverse!
It looks so peaceful and calm.....
.....not so much in this photo
Back to being calm
The obligatory photo of lichen covered rock
The highest peak in Waterton, Mount Blakiston
Red argillite and Rogan Peak. 5 minutes after this was taken I was running down the mountain to get out of the severe wind
Out of the wind, looking up to the ridge
At the bottom of the drop-off I had to circumvent
Results of the 2017 fire
Looking down the drainage
Looking up the drainage
I like blackened steak and chicken!
Very blustery weather to the southwest
Not enough to ice climb, but very scenic nonetheless
Sofa and Vimy in the distance
Many stunning contrasts now that the fire has ravaged (cleansed) the area
Looking back to the obvious drainage I descended
Crazy, beautiful trees
With crazy colours
There were several "fields" of almost completely white trees on this side of the peak
Here they are
and again
and again
The route goes up the right skyline but the left looked even more interesting - someday!
This was the most entertaining group of dead trees
They were extraordinarily white
This one too
Last tree photo!
One more with Lakeview Ridge
Following the creek out was very enjoyable, even with the insanely cold wind
Love the colours of winter, when snow is not hiding them
Rogan Peak and Mount Dungarvan at the right
The End
